It is with great excitement that I welcome you back to a new school year at École Marigold Elementary, home to both our English and French Immersion programs. I feel truly fortunate to be joining this wonderful community as your new principal. While I am new to the school, I already know that Marigold is a very special place—thanks to the warm and caring staff, the supportive families, and of course, the incredible students.

I have had the pleasure of meeting some of our children already, and I look forward to getting to know each of them better throughout the year. We are especially excited to welcome our newest Marmots—our Kindergarten students, as they begin their learning journey through a thoughtful gradual entry.

At Marigold, we are proud to offer a rich variety of opportunities for our learners. From our outstanding music, choir, and strings programs to clubs such as math, track, swim club and robotics, students are encouraged to discover their passions and strengths both in and out of the classroom.

Our school is truly a family, and I want to recognize the important role of our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), whose fundraising efforts and commitment help create positive experiences for our children. This year, we will continue to host wonderful opportunities to come together, build connections and celebrate our community spirit.

As a school, we will be focusing our collective learning on two key areas: literacy and social-emotional well-being. These areas are central to helping all of our students thrive academically and personally.

To guide me, I often reflect on the words of the philosopher Baba Dioum: “In the end we conserve what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.” This reminds me of the important work we do every day in schools—helping children learn, grow, and discover their own love of learning.

I look forward to a wonderful year ahead filled with learning, laughter, and connection. Thank you for welcoming me into the Marmot family—I am honoured to be part of this community.

Sincerely,

Tim Murphy, Principal